Door latch



De@u E2, 1950 D. W. KEEF DooR LATCH Filed oct. 1o, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet 1INVENTOR. 6 Dennis M Keef fi?.

BY www Dec. 12, i950 D, W KEEF 2,533,377

2/ z/ 2/ z/ 65 @f6 gw @a fvg. 9 n july. f5 fly 7J INVENTOR. D enrzis W.Kee f Meme@ Dec. 12, 950 D. w. KEEF 2,533,377

DOOR LATCH Filed Oct. l0, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 fvg. 2a fzy. 25

75/723- 5/ f 55 JNVENToR. I Dennis W. Kee?C Y B {4f/@Mm Aitor/neg Fig.10 is a View similar to Fig. '7 at a later stage in closing movement;

Fig. 11 is a View similar to Fig. 9 taken along line II--II of Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is a view similar to Fig. 7 showing the parts in latchingposition;

Fig. 13 is a vertical section taken along line I3-I3 of Fig. 12;

Fig. 14 is a view similar to Fig. '7 showing the rst stage in releasingmovement;

Fig. 15 is a vertical section taken along line I5-I5 of Fig. 14;

Fig. 16 is a view similar to Fig. 7 showing a succeeding stage in thereleasing movement;

Fig. 17 is a view similar to Fig. '7 showing the final stage of thereleasing movement;

Fig. 18 is a partial horizontal section on an enlarged scale takensubstantially along line I8-I8 ofFig.1;

Fig. 19 is a view in front elevation of a modied cabinet showing a formof plunger actuating member;

Fig. 20 is a horizontal section on an enlarged scale taken substantiallyalong line 2l-2U of Fig. 19;

Fig. 21 is a vertical section similar to Fig. 2 showing a modified formof the invention;

Fig. 22 is a detailed view in elevation of the latching dog of Fig. 21;

Fig. 23 is an end elevation taken substantially from line 23-23 of Fig.22;

Fig. 24 is a side elevation of the modified plunger of Fig. 21;

Fig. 25 is an end elevation taken from line 25--25 of Fig. 24;

Fig. 26 is a plan view taken from line 26-25 f Fig. 24;

Fig. 27 is a vertical section taken substantially along line 21-21 ofFig, 21 showing the dog and latching spring at the beginning of alatching movement;

Fig. 28 shows a succeeding stage in the latching movement;

Fig. 29 showsa succeeding stage in the latching movement;

Fig. 30 is a similar view showing the parts in latched position;

Fig. 31 is a plan View taken substantially from line 3I-3I of Fig. 30;

Fig. 32 is a vertical section taken substantially along line 32-32 ofFig. 33; and

Fig. 33 is a plan view taken from the plane of line 33-33 of Fig. 32.

Referring to the construction set forth in Figs. 1 to 18 inclusive, twoseparable members, such as a cabinet ID and a door II hinged thereto byhinges I2, may be provided with a touch-latch including a support I3 anda plunger I4. The support preferably comprises a substantiallycylindrical member having an outer ange adapted to engage the outersurface of the door II when the support is inserted through a holedrilled through the door. The inner intermediate portion of the supportI3 is preferably provided with screw threads I adapted to engage a nut IS which may be drawn tightly against the inner surface of the door II,The inner extremity of the support I3 is provided with a large cavity II opening toward one side, to provide room for reception of a dog I8pivotally mounted upon a pin I9 at the overhanging end of the supportand located toward the lower edge thereof. The support is slottedoutwardly from the pivot I9 so that the dog may project forwardly inline with the plunger or may extend laterally, or may swing inwardly atleast partially into the cavity II as seen in full outline in Fig. 2.The plunger I4 comprises an outwardly protruding head adapted to beslidably guided in a cylindrical bore in the outer end of the supportand which provides a shoulder between which and the enlarged head may becompressed a spring 2E] coiled about the plunger and which normallymaintains the plunger projecting slightly beyond the support so that theplunger may be manually engaged. The inner end of the plunger isprovided with a groove in which a spring clip device 2|, substantiallyencircling the plunger, may be positioned between the surface of theplunger and the inner surface of the bore through the support.

The spring clip device 2l comprises a band spring substantiallyencircling the plunger, and has free ends 22 extending into the lowerpart of the cavity I'I. The upper forward edge of the spring 2| may beprovided with inwardly bent prongs 23 serving to prevent circumferentialmovement of the spring 2I by engaging the sides of the slot in theplunger I4. Between the prongs 23 there may be provided a tab 24 adaptedto be bent upwardly to engage the inner end of an opening 28 in the wallof the support through which the tab 24 may be manipulated in order tocause it to stand up and engage the support I 3 to limit outwardmovement of the plunger due to the spring 20, and also to prevent itfrom rotating.

The dog I 8 comprises spaced ears encircling the pin I9 and embracing aspring 25 coiled about the pin I9 and having one end projecting into ahole drilled in the dog I 8 and its opposite end projecting into a holedrilled through the end of the plunger I4 whereby the spring 25 may bemaintained at zero compression when the dog is projecting laterallyoutward, placed under compression when the dog swings rearwardly, andplaced under tension when the dog swings forwardly. The spring 25 thustends normally to maintain the dog in laterally projecting position. Theouter end of the dog is provided with an arcuate face 26, the center ofcurvature of which may be located at the axis of pin I9. The dog tapersinwardly to a narrow inner edge, and at the junction of the inner edgeand the arcuate face 26 is provided with a double wedge enlargement 21.

While the face 26 may lie along a true arc, it is preferred to have itassume a slightly spiral contour with the shortest radius at the edgecarrying the wedge enlargement. Therefore the point of engagement of theface 26 with a roller abutment will be below (or Outside of) a line-through the axis of pin I9 and the axis of the roller as will appearlater.

An abutment for engagement with the dog I8 is provided by fastening anabutment of any suitable type mounted ona support 30 to a fixed portionof the other separable member such as a shelf 3| in the cabinet I0. Thesupport 30 may comprise a plate having upwardly extending ears 32journalling a pivot 33 for a roller 34 whose axis extends normally tothe axis of plunger I4 or parallel to the pin I9. The periphery of theroller 34 is so positioned as to cause swinging movement of the dog I8when either edge thereof is engaged by the roller, and when the dog ispositioned in latching position, as seen in Fig. 2, it is at such adistance from the axis of pin I9 that no more than a fractional inch ofdisplacement may be permitted. However. if the dog I8 assegna? istv not'maintained; in latchingf positionbyy the SDI'I1g12I, asf will beexplained.r later.. the arcuate face 2.6. permits thev dog to move to`its: laterally projecting position. If the cabinet ccnstruction is'rigid the: parts may be so adjusted that when the door III is firmlyagainst the shelf St the dog I 8 willi have but ar few thousandths of aninch play between itr and the roller 34,.. However, in order to permitot some inaccuracyr or subsequent warping ofv one part with respect tothe other, and in order to assure iirml Contact against rattling, theVouter edge of the shelf 35i is preferably' provided with a rubber bumperbutton 351 which may be compressed sli'ghtly'by pressure against theplunger I4 and thel portion of the supporti3` surrounding the plunger toassure freedom of swinging movement of the dog i8 when necessary.v

It the: face 262 is formed as a spiral there willi be aslightcomponentof force always tending to force the dog outwardly so4 thatwhen the spring ZI is removed from the wedge enlargement the d'og willbe forced to swingr outwardly while the roller 34e turns.

In order tohave the door swing open auto matically when the dog l-S is.released from latching position. it is preferable to provide a springopening device such as the plunger 36, mounted in a thimble 3iadapted tobe forced into a bore 36 in the edge of the cabinet it?, and normallyforced outward by a spring 39, the plunger CAE bearing against a portionof the door lI in such fashion as` to swing the door outwardly when thelatch is released.

Operation of first modification As seen in Figs. 2 to 5 inclusive thedog is mounted in latehing position by the ends 22 of the band spring,which has been wedged apart by the wedge enlargement 2I and subsequentlyhas snapped behind the lower surfaces of the wedge enlargementpositively to hold the dog in the position illustrated with its arcuateface again-st the roller 34. Figs. 7 to 13 inclusive illustrate themovement oi the dog to its latched position. As the door isv swung shutthe leading edge of the laterally projecting dog I8 engages theA roller34, causing the dog to swing inwardly. In subsequent stages the wedgeenlargement is shown spreading the ends of the spring latch and passingbeyond toan extent necessary to permit the dog to drop behind the roller34 until. further movement thereof is prevented by the spring clipengaging the lower surfaces of the wedge enlargement. The door is thusmaintained in latched position until the plunger I4 is movedlongitudinal-ly by manual engagement. As seen in Figs. 14 and l5 themanual engagement of the plunger moves the ends 22 of the spring clipfrom beneath the wedge enlargement of the dog, thus permitting the forceof gravity or the compression of spring 25, aided by the component offorce due to the spiral face, tomove the dog to its normal, laterallyprojecting position as seen in Fig. 16. Whenthe hand is removed from theplunger i4 the spring opening device causes the door to swing open. Theleading edge of the dog will engage the roller 3ft and the dog will beswung inwardly beyond the end of support as seen in Fig. 17. As soon asthe dog has cleared the roller S4 the tens-ion of spring 25 or the forceof gravity will return the dog to its normal, laterally projectingposition in readiness for the next closing movement.

Second modification In Figs. 19 and 2u a modified form of cabinet such`as. a. refrigerator 4I! is provided with a hinged door 4I adapted to beopened by a handle lever 42. Av support 43. is adapted to be mounted inthe door and is provided with. a plunger 44 and spring 45 normallyretaining.v the plunger inL inwardly projecting position. The supportcarries a dog 46. such as the dog I8 which is adapted` to be retainedVby a spring clipsuch as the clip 2I mounted upon the support. Thecabinet is provided with an abutment mounting member 4l carrying aroller such as theroller 34. The support 43 mounts` a pivot pin 48 uponwhich is pivotally mountedA a laterally projecting plate 49 having anopening through which the end of the plunger 44 projects. The free endof the plate 49 carries a pivot 50 parallel to the pivot 48- anduponwhich the handle 42 is pivotal-1y mounted, the handle having arecess therein for reception of the projecting end of the plunger 44.The' handle is provided with elongated openings 5I through which a pin52 passes, the pin 52 projecting through the plunger 44. handle 42 ispressed toward the door the plate t9 will be rocked about pivot 48 topull the plunger 4i! outwardly and cause release of the dog. If thehandle 42 is pulled outwardly from the door it will pivot about pivot 50to pull the plunger 44 outwardly and release the dog. The operation ofthe dog is exactly as previously described.

The modification herein illustrated is meant to emphasize. the universaladaptability of the tou-endeten to vario-us forms of cabinets 'or theLilieV and to illustrate the fact that the plunger 451i need not bemovedl in one direction only, since the rst modication releasingmovement is accomplished by pushing the plunger inwardly while in thismodication releasing of the dog is accomplished by pulling the plungeroutwardly. This modificationalso illustrates the adaptability of theinvention to handle or lever operated devices'.

Third modification In the modification illustrated in Figs. 21 to 33inclusive certain details fof the plunger and dog have been altered.Thisr modification may be more desirable since retention of the dog inlatched position is accomplished by a wedging efe'ct rather than by the:tension of the spring clipy device alone.

in this modioation the support et* adapted to be mounted up'on a door orthe like is provided with a central bore Si mounting a plunger 62, theplunger being normally retained outwardly by a. coiled spring 63. Theinner end -oi the support (it carries a dog it mounted upon a pivot pin@5 and normally retained in laterally projecting position by a. springlit similar to the spring 25. The plunger 552 is maintained in itsnormal outward position by a pin t? projecting into a slot S8 in thesupport Se through which the pin may be inserted after the plunger is inposition. The inner end ci the plunger is longitudinally slotted.leaving projecting side members l, the inner surfaces of which convergedownwardly and toward the bottom or the slot and inwardly away from thehead of the plunger. The converging sides exert a slight wedging etectso that a very slight push on the outer end oi the plunger serves toaugment the wedging thrust and unlock. the dog. A Wishbone spring 1I isextended longi If the` tudinally of the plunger 62 on the lower surfaceof a deep notch cut in the upper half of the plunger, the spring beingretained by a screw l2. The projecting ends of the legs of the springextend through slots 'i3 aligned with the inner surfaces of the portions'la and the ends are reversely directed to provide a spaced pair of tips'Hi lying against the sloping walls 'of the members 1B. The dog G4 isprovided with a curved latching face 'i5 as in the dog I3. The innercorner of the dog is provided with a double wedge enlargement 'l similarto the enlargement Z'i of dog i8 but having lower sloping facesdiverging at substantially the same angle as the angle between the innersurfaces of the portions 10, The wedge enlargement is capable of passingupward through the slot in the plunger as seen in Figs. 27 and 28 but indoing so the wedge enlargement engages the tips l!! and moves the endsof the Wishbone spring upwardly a slight distance until the wedgeenlargement passes beyond a point at which the tips 'le may snap backinto normal position. When the dog has cleared the abutment (not hereinillustrated, but an abutment similar to that illustrated in Fig. 2 maybe utilized) the spring 5E swings the dog outwardly until the tips 1dwedgingly engage the lower surfaces of the enlargement 16 to retain thedog in latching position as seen in Figs. 30 and 3l. When the plunger 62is displaced longitudinally the tips 'lll move beyond the wedgeenlargement to permit the spring 65 to swing the dog outwardly. In allother respects this modification operates as previously described.

In this modification it is apparent that the latching action of the dogis not dependent upon the strength of a spring member since the latchingaction is accomplished by wedging the tips between converging members.Also the construction of the dog is sturdier and the wedge enlargementwill not become worn to any extent.

Having illustrated and described several ernbodiments which my inventionmay assume it should be immediately apparent to those skilled in the artthat various modifications in detail and arrangement may be achievedwithin the teachings of the present disclosure. All su'ch modificationsas come within the true spirit and scope of the appended claims areconsidered to be a part of my invention.

I claim:

1. Means for latching together two separable members such as a cabinetand a door therefor, comprising an elongated, hollow support adapted tobe mounted on one of said members, a plunger slidably mounted forlongitudinal movement in said support, said plunger having a recesstherein, a spring biased between said support and said plunger andnormally maintaining said plunger in one position with respect to saidsupport, a dog pivotally mounted on said support and swingable from alaterally projecting position to a partially retracted position ineither direction longitudinally of said plunger, said dog and saidplunger being so related that a portion of said dog may enter saidrecess when said dog is retracted in one direction, and a spring catchdevice mounted upon said plunger in position to engage said portion ofsaid dog when swung into said recess while said plunger is in saidnormally maintained Dosition, said plunger being movable longitudinallyagainst the force of said Spring to another position at which saidspring catch device is removed from engagement with said dog.

2. The construction set forth in claim 1 in which said dog comprises awedge enlargement and said spring catch device comprises a resilientpart projecting into the recess in said plunger in position to snap pastsaid wedge enlargement.

3. The construction set forth in claim l wherein said dog comprises adouble wedge enlargement and said spring catch device comprises a springclip including opposed portions adapted to be spread apart by saidenlargement.

4. The construction set forth in claim 1; in combination with a secondspring biased between said support and said dog to normally maintainsaid dog in laterally projecting position.

5. The construction set forth in claim 1 wherein the free end of saiddog conforms to an arc centered substantially at the pivotal mountingthereof.

6. The construction set forth in claim 1 wherein the free end of saiddog conforms to a spiral.

7. The construction set forth in claim 1 wherein the free end of saiddog conforms to a spiral' 0f increasing radius toward its forward edge.

8. Means for latching together two separable members such as a cabinetand a door therefor, comprising a support adapted to be mounted on oneof said members, a plunger slidably mounted for longitudinal movement insaid support, a rst spring biased between said support and said plungerand normally maintaining said plunger in one position with respect tosaid support, a dog pivotally mounted on said support and having a wedgeenlargement thereon, said dog being swingable from a laterallyprojecting position to a partially retracted position in eitherdirection longitudinally of said plunger, a spring catch device mountedupon said plunger in position to snap past said wedge enlargement whensaid dog is swung in one direction while said plunger is in saidnormally maintained position, said plunger being movable longitudnallyagainst the force of said rst spring to another position at which saidspring catch device is removed from engagement with said wedgeenlargement, and a second spring biased between said support and saiddog to normally maintain said dog in laterally proj ecting position.

9. The construction set forth in claim 8 wherein said dog comprises adouble wedge enlargement and said spring catch device comprises a springclip adapted to be spread apart by said double wedge enlargement.

10. Means for latching together two separable members such as a cabinetand a door therefor, comprising a support adapted to be mounted on oneof said members, a plunger slidably mounted for longitudinal movement insaid support, a spring biased between said support and said plunger andnormally maintaining said plunger in one position with respect to saidsupport, a dog pivotally mounted on said support and swingable from alaterally projecting position to a partially retracted position ineither direction longitudinally of said plunger, said plunger beingprovided with a longitudinal recess adapted to receive a portion of saiddog therein, and a spring catch device mounted upon said plunger inposition to engage said portion of the dog when said dog is swung in onedirection while said plunger is in said normally maintained position,said spring catch device comprising a spring clip having its endsprojecting into said plunger from opposite sides of said recess, saidplunger being movable longitudinally against the force of said spring toanother position at which said spring catch device releases said dog.

DENNIS W. KEEF.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the 15 le/ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Number Name Date Kaye Sept. 9, 1879 SmileyAug, 9, 1910 Kuethe Mar. 26, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date SwedenOct. 24, 1939

